X-factor for each NL contender's final stretch

The National League is an absolute mess - any of the five playoff seeds are still wide open and no team has clinched as of yet.

Hypothetically speaking, the Nationals, Pirates, and Giants could all still win their respective divisions. However, the postseason picture for the Senior Circuit is essentially down to eight teams: the Cubs, Braves, Rockies, Brewers, Dodgers, Cardinals, Diamondbacks, and Phillies.

With still so much to be determined - and a potential game 163 feeling increasingly imminent - let's take a look at one factor affecting each team's postseason chances.

Cubs - Bullpen

Record: 87-62, 1st in NL Central

As much as this could come down to how the weather affects the club (they haven't had a scheduled day off since Aug. 20 thanks to what feels like constant rainouts), the Cubs could live or die by their relief corps.

The Brewers are breathing down their neck for the division lead and have a pretty easy schedule down the stretch. In their final 13 games, the Cubs will have to rely on a decimated bullpen with Brandon Morrow and Pedro Strop sidelined. Over the last 30 days, Jesse Chavez, Jorge De La Rosa, Carl Edwards Jr., Steve Cishek, and Brandon Kintzler have combined for a sub-optimal 3.55 ERA.

Braves - Aaron Nola

Record: 83-66, 1st in NL East

That's right, an opposing player. If everything stays the same in Philadelphia's rotation, the Braves will be forced to face Nola twice over their remaining 14 games; once in the finale of their upcoming four-game set, and then in the opener of the last series of the season. Despite holding a decisive 6 1/2-game lead on the Phillies for the division, that's not the player Atlanta wants to see on the mound.

In three starts against the Braves, the ace has held hitters to a .215/.246/.277 slash line. While Atlanta has scored six runs over those 18 1/3 innings (2.95 ERA), they've had to do it without a home run. As a result, the Braves have been forced to the running game, stealing four bags with Nola on the hill. That strategy may need to be recalibrated though, as the Phillies have relied heavily on Jorge Alfaro and his plus defense behind the dish.

Rockies - Kyle Freeland

Record: 82-67, 1st in NL West

Cracking the code of Coors Field, Freeland is well on his way to becoming the first Rockies starter with a sub-2.50 ERA in 50 innings or more at home since the park opened in 1995. The 25-year-old owns an unbelievable 2.36 ERA in the home run haven of Colorado, but a 3.51 ERA on the road.

It's a remarkable achievement, and while the next two series - against the Dodgers and Diamondbacks - will mean a lot, the final seven games are all at home against the Phillies and Nationals. The Rockies will almost definitely need Freeland to continue whatever voodoo magic he has harnessed to conquer Coors for those final games, which will almost definitely feature two starts from the Colorado native.

Brewers - Jhoulys Chacin

Record: 85-65, 2nd in NL Central, 1st in NL wild card

For a team with October aspirations, relying on Chacin as the ace of the staff doesn't seem particularly foolproof. And, if we go to the tape, there are some interesting stats about the club's star right-hander.

First, the Brewers will face the division-rival Cardinals in their penultimate series of the season in a three-game set that will be crucial for both teams. Chacin has been obliterated by St. Louis this year, owning a 6.10 ERA over three starts. The 30-year-old has been borderline dominant against all other opponents, though, holding hitters to an impressive .210/.293/.339 slash line. Missing the Cardinals and instead taking the hill against the lowly Tigers in the final series of the regular season would give him every opportunity to continue that run of success.

Dodgers - Justin Turner

Record: 82-68, 2nd in NL West, tied for 2nd in NL wild card

It cannot be overstated how instrumental Turner has been for the Dodgers' playoff hopes these past few weeks. And, if Los Angeles wants to keep that rolling, their third baseman may need to keep performing at his superhuman level.

Over the past 30 days, the 33-year-old Turner has posted a 1.164 OPS with six home runs and nearly as many walks as strikeouts. Adding intrigue, with a crucial set upcoming against the Diamondbacks, it's worthwhile to remember that Turner has made a habit of torturing Arizona. In 281 career plate appearances against the D-Backs, Turner has a .926 OPS with 10 homers. This year, he's 5-for-12 with three walks. Maybe it's unfair to pin the hopes of such a talented roster on the one player who has resoundingly done his part, but if Turner keeps performing this way, Dodgers fans may forget about Brian Dozier's .648 OPS since joining L.A.

Cardinals - Harrison Bader

Record: 82-68, 3rd in NL Central, tied for 2nd in NL wild card

Last month, the 24-year-old Bader seemed like a semi-legitimate candidate for NL Rookie of the Year behind both Juan Soto and Ronald Acuna Jr. However, while his defense remains elite, the outfielder has tapered off at the plate.

Over the past 30 days, Bader has been unable to flaunt his elite running game due to a pedestrian .270 OBP. Even further, he's striking out in more than one-third of his plate appearances. By contrast, during St. Louis' eight-game win streak last month, Bader authored a remarkable .333/.414/.667 slash line. As the rookie goes, so too do the Cardinals, or so it seems.

Diamondbacks - The closer

Record: 78-72, 3rd in NL West, 4th in NL wild card

Heading into the season, replacing an oft-shaky Fernando Rodney with Brad Boxberger seemed like, at worst, a lateral move. Now, Rodney is playing a key role as setup man for the playoff-hopeful Oakland Athletics, while the D-Backs bullpen is in shambles.

Forced into a closer-by-committee situation this late in the season, Boxberger, Archie Bradley, and Yoshihisa Hirano have all had their shortcomings. Save for May, Boxberger has looked beatable; since the beginning of June, he owns a 6.23 ERA. Bradley has the best swing-and-miss stuff in Arizona's 'pen, but hitters have learned to lay off recently, as his on-base percentage in the second half has swelled to .386. In Hirano's first season stateside, the 34-year-old has adapted well, though his already low strikeout totals perilously fell to 10.5 percent in August; barely higher than his 7.9 percent walk rate.

Phillies - Odubel Herrera

Record: 76-72, 2nd in NL East, 5th in NL wild card

Early in the season, led by new management, it seemed like Herrera was finally poised for a strong campaign. Through May, the 26-year-old outfielder owned a .313/.377/.485 slash line with seven homers and a pair of stolen bases.

Those numbers have since dropped precipitously. Since the All-Star break, Herrera owns a miserable .620 OPS and has been below replacement level by FanGraphs WAR. If he can turn it on down the stretch - particularly in their seven remaining games against the Braves - then the Phillies may still have a chance to squeeze into that coveted wild-card spot which they currently trail by five games.